Date:
Woking Borough Council has issued a formal apology and fully accepts the findings and recommendations of an independent public interest report into its governance arrangements relating to past investment decisions and strategy.
During last night’s extraordinary council meeting (Wednesday 20 November), councillors unanimously accepted the report’s conclusions and recommendations, alongside apologising to residents for failings of the past.
With the support of Commissioners, the council will now check whether there are any additions it needs to make to its existing Improvement and Recovery Plan to take account of the public interest report.
The public interest report, prepared by independent external auditors, Grant Thornton, highlighted historic shortcomings in the council’s financial, governance and legal arrangements spanning decades. There was a failure by previous political and managerial leadership to ensure borrowing and investment decisions were proportionate to the council’s size and failed to ensure ‘best value’.
It concluded that these governance failures, coupled with inadequate financial control and risk management, resulted in unsustainable borrowing and an extraordinary level of debt.
The report also found that key senior officers failed to fulfil their statutory duties during the period under review. All individuals referenced in the report have since left Woking Borough Council.
Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “Publication of the Grant Thornton public interest report confirmed what many residents already felt - that their council has let them down. Years of mismanagement, poor governance and a disregard for the risks have left our community burdened with unsustainable debt.
“These systemic failings betrayed the trust residents placed in the council and have had far-reaching consequences.
“On behalf of Woking Borough Council I want to apologise for these unacceptable failings of the past.
“As Leader, I am committed to ensuring that such failures are never repeated and accepting the report’s recommendations in full is a critical step. Embedding them into our ongoing Improvement and Recovery Plan will strengthen governance, improve financial management, and rebuild public confidence in the council.
“We cannot undo the failures of the past, but we can and must learn from them. By implementing the auditor’s recommendations, we are taking decisive action to secure a better future for Woking and the residents we serve.”
Since June 2023, the council has implemented significant reforms, strengthening its financial, legal, decision-making and governance frameworks. Through the ongoing Improvement and Recovery Plan, the council is embedding a culture of transparency, accountability and value for money, ensuring good governance remains at the heart of its operations.
Sir Tony Redmond, Lead Commissioner for the government-appointed team overseeing Woking Borough Council, said: “The independent public interest report highlighted systemic organisational failures. The council failed in its duty to safeguard public money and deliver value for residents.
“Commissioners strongly support the independent auditor’s recommendations and are currently liaising with relevant professional bodies and enforcement agencies where appropriate.
“However, this is not solely about individual failings. Not only are there crucial lessons for Woking Borough Council but, more broadly, the public interest report highlights a number of issues that will need to be considered by Government.”
Following publication of the public interest report, the council’s Chief Executive contacted Surrey Police to make clear that any evidence of criminality or misfeasance in public office would be referred to them for investigation.
Meanwhile, Commissioners have begun liaising with the appropriate professional bodies regarding possible action and with Government over the wider points raised in the public interest report.
Read the Grant Thornton public interest report
Hard copies of the report are also available to view in person at the Civic Offices between the hours of 9am and 4.45pm, Monday to Friday.
In the interests of transparency, the council has published confidential Executive and Council Part 2 reports and documents dating back to between 2016 and 2022.